Using D&D PC's with Mass Combat

[derv]

This is my continued attempt at reconciling mixing scale in Chainmail and using PC's from your D&D game. You may find it useful or you may simply find it entertaining

Chainmail Mixed Scale Mass Combat with the use of D&D PC’s

All “normal” 1:10 troop types are counted as a man per scale. So, a 1:10 HF figure would be worth 10 HF men on the Combat Table.

All “fantastic” 1:1 figures would count as a man per their description within the Fantasy Supplement. So, a 1:1 Hero would be worth 4 HF men on the Combat Table.

A 1:10 HF figure vs. a 1:1 Hero HF figure would receive 10 dice/ 6 kills (hits). The Hero would receive 4 dice/ 6 kills (hits). Four cumulative hits must occur against the Hero to kill him. Reduce the number of dice of a 1:10 figure as it takes casualties.

The rule found in U&WA on page 25 would be applied. It states, “Battles involving large numbers of figures can be fought at a 20:1 ratio, with single fantastic types fighting separately at 1:1 or otherwise against but a single 20:1 figure.” (I believe the best limit to scale to be 10:1 or less.)

Depending on contact, formations, and spacing, a max of three 1:1 figures may engage one 1:10 figure from the front at a time. But only one 1:10 figure may engage a 1:1 figure at a time.

In this case, hits must be tracked for the individual 1:10 figure and excessive casualty morale checks made at the point in melee when casualties fall below the stated percentage by troop type (this is by rounds and not turns). A failed morale check results in removal of the 1:10 figure. So, if after three rounds of combat a 1:10 HF figure suffers 4 kills, it must make a morale check of 7+ on two dice to remain in combat. In contrast, the loss of any “commander” figure will have an impact on an entire armies morale.

1:10 figures that sustain damage in melee with 1:1 figures should reduce their combat dice each round accordingly.

Any 1:10 figures who suffer casualties in melee with 1:1 figures but remain in play after the turn is resolved should reduce their Morale Rating by 1 for the sake of future Post Melee Morale checks. Our above HF figure would then have a Morale Rating of 4 (equivalent to LF).

Melee between mutual 1:10 figures would proceed as normal, with each figure in formation counting as a man on the Combat Table.

Notes on converting D&D PC’s:

1. Ignore Level and Fighting Capability. The only thing that applies is HD and AC.
2. Drop all modifiers to HD. Each whole HD= 1 man in capability.
3. If necessary, always round down on the Combat Table when determining number of dice for melee.
4. Use AC to assign a defensive troop type rating.
5. PC’s of Hero status or better may be used as “commanders” and those benefits apply (page 21).
-Fighter of 4HD or greater
-Cleric and Magic User of 5HD or greater
If attached to a unit of 1:10 figures, the commander would be the last figure to be attacked unless he breaks free from the unit to act independently. While attached to a unit, a commander adds +1 to all die rolls only. He would not add any additional die.
6. Magic weapons add one man of capability for each +1 modifier (max of +3). If weapon is +4 or greater, move to next higher troop type on combat table.
Magic armor should be figures into AC and the appropriate troop type selected for defensive troop type.
7. Healing potions/spells will cure 1-2 HD (light/ serious) of damage only.
8. For assigning point values to PC’s each HD= 5 points.

Suggested comparison of OD&D equivalent (for sake of monster conversions):

1. Horse= 2+HD creatures
*horse: unarmored= 1HD barded= 1+HD
2. AF= 1+HD creatures
3. HF= 1HD creatures
4. LF= <1HD creatures

LF + unarmored horse= (LH) 1+HD
HF or AF + unarmored horse = (MH) 2HD/ 2+HD
AF + barded horse= (HH) 3HD

Defensive ratings and equivalent (for sake of monster & PC conversions):

1. AC 9-7 (1-3)= LF/LH
2. AC 6-4 (4-6)= HF/MH
3. AC 3-2 (7-8)= AF/HH

PC’s may have different troop type ratings for attack and defense. If a PC is mounted, then simply change type from foot to equal horse type.

-All 1HD (including <1HD & 1+1HD) figures are “normal” troops that can be used at 1:10.
-Any 2HD figures may be used at 1:10, but will not then take cumulative hits so 1:1 is preferable.
-All figures 3HD or greater must be used at 1:1, but take cumulative hits.
-Humanoid creatures will generally be converted to foot. Quadrupeds, creatures that fly, undead, and magical beasts will convert as horse with consideration to HD equivalence.
-Simultaneous hits do not apply. All multi-HD figures take cumulative hits. Though “immunity” to normal attacks still apply for certain figures.
-All melee is resolved using the MCT. There is no need for the FCT.
-“Normal” combat between mutual 1:10 figures is resolved as it traditionally would.
-“Mixed” combat (between a 1:1 and 1:10 figure) is resolved as presented above.

OD&D HD Conversions of Chainmail FRT
*If you choose to use monsters & PC's from OD&D instead of the Fantasy Supplement.

Name= HD= troop type (attack/ defend)

Men= 1HD= (by type)
Hero= 4HD= (by type)
Wizards= 7HD= (7LF)
Superhero= 8HD= (by type)
Goblins/ Kobolds= 1HD= (HF/LF)
Orcs= 1HD= (HF)
Hobgoblins= 1+1HD= (AF)
Dwarves= 1HD= (HF/LF)
Gnomes= 1HD= (HF/LF)
Elves= 1+1HD= (AF)
Nixies/ Pixies= 1HD= (LF)
Lycanthrope= 4-6HD (wolf-bear)= (AF/HF)
Wraith= 4HD= (4AF or 2MH)
Trolls= 6+3HD= (6HF)
Ogres= 4+1HD= (4HF)
Balrogs= 10HD= (3HH)
Ent= 8HD= (8AF)
Giants= 8-12HD= (12HF/AF)
Dragons= 5-12HD= (4HH)
Roc= 6HD= (3MH/HH)
Elementals= 8-16HD= (4MH or HH)
Giant Wolves= 1HD (small animals)= (LH)
Wight= 3HD= (3AF or 2LH/HH)
Ghoul= 2HD= (2AF/HF or 1MH/HF)
Zombie= 1HD= (1AF/LF or 1LH/LF)
Skeleton= <1HD= (LF)


Feel free to comment. I ran a brief scenario that I'll be posting below.

[derv]

Scenario: Red Eyed Raiders
Orc raiding parties of the tribe of the Red Eye have arrived on the beach head of the Lokiaden Sea with the intent of ransacking the isolated Dwarven settlements in the nearby Bethmoida hill country. In response, the Dwarven Elders have quickly dispatched war parties to cut off the head of the snake before it grows too strong and bold.

Your war party of Dwarves has encountered a small force of Orc raiders within the thick canopy of the Dokborg Forest. The ancient hatred of goblin-kind is quickly kindled.

Dwarven War Party:
Dwarven Commander Lon Bruk Stone Seeker 4HD AF (20 points)
+2 magic sword “Darkblood” (15 points)
Dwarven Lieutenant Grum Dom Brass Jaw 3HD HF (15 points)
30 Dwarven Spearmen- HF/LF (6 points)
30 Dwarven Axmen- HF/LF (6 points)

Orc Raiders:
Orc Jarl (Commander) Brolm 6HD AF (30 points)
+1 scimitar “Crasher” (10 points)
10 Giant Wolves- LH (10 points)
50 Orcs- HF (10 points)

Tracking Troops:
Dwarves:
Lon Bruk Stone Seeker Move: 6” (9”)
Hits: O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 20

Grum Dom Brass Jaw Move: 6” (9”)
Hits: O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 15

30 Dwarf Spearmen (3 figures) Move: 6” (9”) Morale Check at 33.3% (7+)
#1 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

#2 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

#3 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

30 Dwarf Axmen (3 figures) Move: 6” (9”) Morale Check at 33.3% (7+)

#1 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

#2 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

#3 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

Orcs:
Jarl Brolm Move: 9” (12”)
Hits: O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 30

10 Giant Wolves (2 figures) Move: 18” (24”) Morale Check at 33.3% (7+)
Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 6

50 Orc Footmen (5 figures) Move: 9” (12”) Morale Check at 33.3% (7+)
#1 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

#2 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

#3 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

#4 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

#5 Hits: O O O O O O O O O O Fatigue State:
Morale Rating: 5

Play Report:
This scenario was an attempt to see how the modified CM rules would work. That being said, strategy was not as important as looking at different situations in play.

Turn 1: Intruder Spotted.

Orcs gain initiative.
All figures perform full moves.





Turn 2: Missed Opportunity

Dwarves gain initiative.
Dwarven Spear, Lon Bruk & Grum Dom make full move.
Dwarven Axmen charge Giant Wolves.
All Orcs make full move into melee.





Melee:
Axmen & Giant Wolves= Axmen eliminated.
Spears & Orcs= 2 Orcs eliminated.
Lon Bruk & Orcs= Commander Lon Bruk killed.



Lon Bruk has fallen!
Remaining forces fail excess casualty check at -2 and flee in horror through the woods.

The snake continues to slither destruction through the settlements.

[derv]

Just a few additional comments about the above scenario.

I use the Move/Countermove turn sequence, but I allow each side to perform steps 2 & 3 as half moves first. Then each side may complete the remainder of their move. This discourages situations where one side can charge and the other cannot.

The melee between the Dwarven Axmen vs. Giant Wolves and the Dwarven Spears vs. Orc HF were resolved as it would have been normally between troops. Both sides also recieved a +1 commander bonus to their rolls. In the case of the Axmen and Wolves, this resulted in:

3 HF vs. 1 LH= 1 die per 2 men/ 5-6 kills for the Axmen
1 LH vs. 3 LF= 2 dice per man/ 4-6 kills for the Giant Wolves

Now, the conflict between Lon Bruk and the 3 figures of 1:10 Orcs was resolved differently. It should be said that this was a foolish move for Lon Bruk that would(should)not have normally been attempted. But it did go three rounds before Lon Bruk was cut down.

Comparitively, a 4th level Warrior would not fair well against 30 Orcs in D&D using the ACS either. This is the balance I want to achieve. With the ACS a 4th level fighter would need an 11+ to hit AC6, a 12+ to hit AC5. A 1 HD Orc would require a 16+ to hit AC3.

Randomly rolling a d20 ten times I rolled 20, 11, 15, 5, 14, 4, 12, 2, 15, 19. This is 2 in 10 hits= 20% and would result in 2-12 points damage on a PC that would average 14 hp's.

With Chainmail, Lon Bruk must engage each 1:10 orc figure individually. Since Lon Bruk is armed with "Darkblood"+2, this produces AF vs. HF 6 dice/ 5-6 kills. The Orc figure would get 5 dice/ 5-6 kills since he is still within 12" of Jarl Brolm. In this situation, the orcs must make 4 cumulative hits against Lon Bruk to kill him. Yet Lon Bruk must make 4 cumulative hits on the orcs to force an Excessive Casualty check. If they would succeed at the check, Lon Bruk would only need to make one more hit to eliminate the 1:10 orc figure from play and on to the next orc figure.

In the scenario, Lon Bruk had made 4 hits against the orcs before he was struck down, but they passed their Excessive Casualty check. The killing of the Dwarven Commander caused the entire Dwarven force to make a morale check, which they failed.

[kesher]

I don't really have much to add, except to say "Awesome!"

And I like the scenery...

[derv]

Thanks kesher!

For any one that's interested, the Dollar Store carries bags of moss and decorative grass in their fake floral arrangement area.

How much for a decent sized bag? A dollar

They also have styrofoam blocks, decorative stones, and other tid-bits that make for interesting terrain. If you go over to their toy area, you may even find bags of plastic knights and rubberized dragons. All the makings for a wargame at a dollar.

My next session I intend to include a Magic User to see how that plays. Since the Wizard was basically a rewrite by Gygax in D&D, you have to do some things differently then Chainmail if you want to use PC's. The following is the 2d6 Saving Throw Matrix I plan to use:


Saving Throws on 2d6 by HD:
* for purpose of spell effects (roll target number or over.)

Fighter: 1= 12, 2= 11, 3= 10, 4= 9, 5&6= 8, 7= 7, 8&9= 6, 10&11= 5, 12= 4

Magic User: 1&2= 10, 3&4= 9, 5&6= 8, 7= 7, 8= 6, 9= 5, 10= 4

Cleric: 1= 11, 2= 10, 3&4= 9, 5&6= 8, 7= 7, 8= 6

*Fantastic Monsters save as Fighters ( see reference CM page 31).

[Finarvyn]

Apr 18, 2014 13:28:44 GMT -6 derv said:

The following is the 2d6 Saving Throw Matrix I plan to use:


Saving Throws on 2d6 by HD:
* for purpose of spell effects.
roll target number or over.

Fighter: 1= 12, 2= 11, 3= 10, 4= 9, 5&6= 8, 7= 7, 8=6, 9&10= 5, 11&12= 4

Magic User: 1&2= 10, 3&4= 9, 5= 8, 6= 7, 7&8= 6, 9= 5, 10= 4

Cleric: 1&2= 11, 3= 10, 4= 9, 5&6= 8, 7= 7, 8= 6

*Fantastic Monsters save as Fighters ( see reference CM page 31).

This is pretty cool. Nice and simple.

[derv]

Apr 19, 2014 6:07:19 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

This is pretty cool. Nice and simple.

I'm still messing with the numbers a little since it's a compromise between Chainmail's Wizard description and D&D's Save vs. Staves & Spells, rolled into a 2d6 table. I thought keeping all the mechanics d6 was important. Otherwise, people could simply use the Saving Throw Matrix form M&M to the same ends. The next question will be, how do I interpret the effects of certain spells and successful saves against them?

Keeping it simple is definately something I'd like to achieve.

[derv]

I have a few things I wanted to share. I've gotten side tracked with investigating the use of Magic Users by some other elements found in OD&D. The first thing that I found useful with Chainmail when using PC's from D&D is found on page 13 of M&M under Loyalty of NPC's. This is something that could be considered "optional", but would add a little twist to the game. A loyalty score could be rolled for any or all hirelings of PC’s. This modifier would be applied to all morale checks. It would also modify the figures Morale Rating for Post Melee checks. You should use a PC’s CHR modifier to effect this score (page 11 M&M).

Next up is found on page 22 of M&M under Clerics versus Undead Monsters. I ran another scenario incorporating this table. It adds a little more incentive to including a Cleric in the party. Unfortunately, I do not have any skeleton miniatures. I instead decided to go the token route and wanted to pass on my find for others to use. At Lowes Hardware I was able to purchase 1" tiles on clearance for 72 cents. Normally, these would cost around $4 a sheet. Each sheet contains 144 one inch tiles that would make perfect bases for miniatures. One side is finished and the other is porous. I used them for tokens that I put sticky images on (see pics).





Quest among the Dead

The “Clerics versus Undead Monsters” table found on page 22 of M&M is conveniently already 2d6 and easily ported over for use with Chainmail. The only changes would be the outcomes. For Chainmail purposes, a “T” would result in a Calvary Charge morale check by the undead (at a max. of 10 figures per unit) and a “D” would result in one figure being dispelled with the remaining figures in the unit making an Excess Casualty morale check (at a max. of 10 figures per unit). When a “D” is listed at lower name levels of the Cleric, a -1 modifier is applied to the morale check for each level lower it is found (so a Lama turning skeletons would incur -3 to their Excess Casualty roll). An attempt at turning undead must be made when within charge distance of the enemy prior to melee. Cleric may attempt a turning only once against a figure or unit. If undead figure(s) succeed at Morale check, they must remain stationary for that turn. They may engage in melee if within melee distance or if attacked though.





Scenario:
The Curate Bartholomew with his faithful companions and hirelings has finally come in site of the object of his quest. Within the ancient mausoleum is an sacred artifact that must be reclaimed for his patron deity. The artifact is the Pendant of Strong Hearts. As they approach the distant vacant grave lot, Bartholomew invokes a plea for aid by Detecting Evil. A faint red aura glows around the grounds as the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. In righteous indignation, Bartholomew tells his men to prepare their arms as they press on towards the mausoleum. Within 240 yards of the building, they watch as the ground erupts and the bones of the dead rise from the earth to form a defensive line to detract any from passing through.

Within 120 yards (12”) of skeletons, Bartholomew bends his knee and bows his head as he lifts the sacred symbol of his god, “Be gone ye desecrators of what is good!”, he shouts.

Bartholomew 4HD Curate= 4HF (commander) Move: 9” Charge: 12” Morale: 20

10HF Faithful Followers Move: 9” Charge: 12” Morale: 5

40HF Hirelings Move: 9” Charge: 12” Morale: 4 (-1 loyalty score)

80LF Skeletons Move: 9” Charge: 12” Morale: 10

Wight 3HD= 1HH Move: 9” Charge: 9” Morale: 10 *paralyze by touch




Turn 1:
Within 12” Bartholomew attempts to turn skeletons before him. On table a Curate vs. skeletons= D. One skeleton is immediately dissolved and removed from play. Remaining skeletons must roll 8+ on 2d6 to remain in play. This roll is at -1 because Bartholomew is a Curate.

Skeletons roll a “3” and are pulverized to dust by the force of Bartholomew’s faith. Greatly emboldened, the Clerics party advance on the other 40 skeletons.

The skeletons charge.

5HF + commander vs. 4LF= 1 die per man/ 4-6 kills.
4LF vs. 5HF= 1 die per 2 men/ 6 kills.

In first round skeletons score no hits, but Bartholomew’s unit rolls three 6’s, a 5, and 4. The skeletons are quickly eliminated.





Turn 2:
Wight appears on steps of mausoleum. It gains initiative and advances in fury on the Clerics men.




Bartholomew attempts to turn the Wight. Wight= T on table. The Wight must roll a 5+ on 2d6. It rolls a “4” and retreats back to the mausoleum.

Bartholomew’s men advance (a charge is not possible due to terrain).

Turn 3:
Wight attempts to rally. Bartholomew’s men advance and attack, forcing the Wight to quickly rally. The Wight must roll a 1-2 or continue retreat with back to the Clerics forces. It rolls “11” and suffers the consequences.

5HF + commander vs. HH= 1 die per 4 men/ 5-6 kills.

Rolling a “5” the Wight sustains 1 pt. of damage.

Fatigue sets in on Bartholomew’s men and is now treated as LF unless they rest one turn.

Wight continues retreat.




Turn 4:
Wight must score a 3-6 to rally. It rolls a “7” and continues its retreat.

Bartholomew’s men rest this turn.

Turn 5:
Wight must score a “6” to rally. It rolls “4” and retreats off the table.

Bartholomew stands victorious on the steps of the mausoleum, thanking his god before entering to reclaim his prize.